Meal Replacements AKA Empowering Shakes

Meal replacements used to be considered as fads when they first came out. As a matter of fact alot of people tried to discourage me from trying them and said that they did not work. What they meant was that it was not sustainable as people who they knew who had gone on them lost weight initially then gained it immediately afterwards when they went off the programme. These of course were compelling arguments so it was with much trepidation that I decided to commence on my own liquid weight loss health plan.

To cut a long story short, it worked for me and I went from a size 22 to a size 14 and I have been able to maintain my weight for well over two years now.

This got me thinking and researching, why did meal replacements work for me and not for others.

Below are a few findings of my own, some anecdotal, some from my readings.

Not all meal replacements are created equal. In fact the variations between them are enormous. Some use alot of sugar and little protein to make them tastier whilst others have more protein and less sugar but more fat. In order to be safe a diet should provide sufficient protein for your needs. If your protein intake is insufficient then your body will take its protien needs from your vital organs like your heart. This could result in serious health issues such as heart rythm abnormalities and in some extreme cases even death.

Ideally the meal replacements you should chose should contain high quality protein, low amounts of fat and a moderate amount of carbohydrates (not all carbohydrates are bad and your body needs a certain amount to function optimally). On average women need about 100 grams of protein a day and men 150 grams a day. You should look for a replacement shake that will provide you with about 35% of your protein needs for the day. You should also ensure that the shake has less than 5% fat content.

All diets work for a time. But not all diets are healthy or sustainable. What made the one I was on work was that it came with a complete package of lifestyle changes and choices, personal mentoring and self education. It was not a starvation diet and it was varied with other supporting supplements and vitamins. It did not involve numbers crunching and I did not need a calculator any time I ate. It also kept me eating throughout the day as I replaced two meals with the shake and had a healthy third meal. In between I ate two protein rich snacks which effectively meant I ate five times a day.

Meal replacements work by letting you know how many calories you have eaten which helps you organise your eating and gives you a clearer idea of what you have eaten for the day. I definately feel happy healthier and wiser from having gone through it. I still enjoy one shake a day but that is by choice. I have noticed that even when I dont take the shake I eat healthier options and more importantly I eat them by choice and not by compulsion. I enjoy my food.

Want to learn more about different types of diets? Why not try my page on Diets.

All diets work up to a point but for the weight loss to be sustainable there are a few basics that need to be adhered to. Find out what they are here.

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